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Saudi's Savola says EBRD will invest $100m in Egypt unit

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will invest in United Sugar Company of Egypt

By Reuters

Tue 29 Mar 2016 07:14 PM

Saudi Arabia's largest food products company, Savola Group, said on Tuesday the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will invest $100 million in one of its indirect subsidiaries in Egypt.

The investment in United Sugar Company of Egypt (USCE) will include a fresh injection of $50 million, as well as the conversion of existing debt of $50 million to equity, it said in a statement.

The deal would bolster USCE's balance sheet and help it cope with Egypt's economic problems, the statement said.

A chronic shortage of foreign currency is hampering Egyptian businesses, leading the central bank to ration dollars through auctions with commercial banks, giving priority to imports of strategic goods.

Savola that under its deal the share capital of USCE will be increased and new shares will be issued to the EBRD. Afterwards, Savola's share in USCE will be reduced from 19.32 percent to 10.37 percent. The ownership of United Sugar Company, also an indirect Savola subsidiary, in USCE will be cut from 56.65 percent to 30.42 percent.

EBRD's ownership in USCE will be 46.32 percent, the statement said.

The EBRD lists developing Egypt's agribusiness sector on its website as one of its aims. It has so far invested in 33 projects, with a cumulative investment of 1.7 billion euros ($1.9 billion), the website said.